Top tips to support a child in their transition to secondary school in Limerick

ALTHOUGH the school year is just ending, for many parents their thoughts turn to their children moving on to secondary school. Transitioning to secondary school from primary school can bring a lot of change for both you, as a parent, and your child. A period of adjustment is normally necessary for most children. As a parent, there are a number of factors for you to consider over the summer and into the new school year in September that may bring challenges for your child when transitioning to secondary school.
The school environment will likely be substantially different in secondary school. For most children, the physical environment will be much bigger, with more classrooms and more people. The number of subjects your child will take will have increased significantly. There will also be some new subjects that your child will not have previous experience of, such as home economics, business studies and languages. Your child’s workload will be substantially higher and there will be an introduction of exams both at mid-year and end of year.

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There are likely more rules and policies to adhere to, in comparison to primary school; this can take time to adjust to, as your child learns these new expectations. Students will have a change of class and teacher approximately every 40-50 minutes, with each subject change. Your child will also have a timetable to navigate, and will need to be aware of deadlines for each subject. They will have access to a locker which they will need to use between classes to access their relevant books and copies. The school day will now also be longer; the adjustment period to a longer school day will be different for each child. As your child adapts to the outlined changes, supporting them to speak about their new experience and the challenges it brings may help be helpful. The transition to secondary school may provoke particular emotions in your child, being accepting and non-judgemental of any emotions they may have around this transition will be beneficial.
Secondary school introduces a new and vast range of people with varying personalities, backgrounds and abilities. Navigating this new social world can be overwhelming. Suddenly there may be other more athletic, social, academic peers, and your child may be navigating and discovering where they now fit in this new environment. Secondary school also tends to be less personal, and students have less interaction with teachers. This may be intimidating initially or can feel isolating for your child while they adjust. Classmates or friends your child may have had for years may be attending another secondary school, and it can be a challenge for them to navigate socialising at this new age and making new friendships in a more complex social setting. It is important to bear in mind, social interactions can be more advanced in secondary school and so friendships can bring new challenges.

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There are individual factors that may also impact how your child responds to this transition. Your child’s academic ability may be a factor, if they have some academic struggles this may contribute to the stress of the transition making it somewhat more challenging. Some children have a more anxious temperament than others and as such may find the transition more anxiety provoking, taking longer to adjust. Children with lower self-esteem may find it more challenging to navigate a new school and social environment; they may find making new friendships difficult. Joining extracurricular activities or school clubs may help with this. Parents are encouraged to be mindful of supporting your child to keep old friendships if possible through after-school activities and age appropriate socialising, as well as supporting them to make new friendships with those in their secondary school.

Top tips to support a child in their transition to secondary school

-Acknowledge that primary school is ending and a new stage is beginning. This is a big milestone which should be acknowledged.

-Support your child in the range of emotions they feel; be with them while they experience these emotions. Rather than trying to ‘fix’ their more difficult emotions, support them to work through them.

-Connect with the new school-take part in induction days, take a tour of the school, and explore what to expect. Establish communication with the secondary school.

-In order to help your child with new pressures experienced through this transition, support them with organisation and planning. This may include colour-coding books and copies, having copies of their timetable on display at home, and supporting them with time management.

-Foster independence in an age appropriate way. Your child may be able to travel to school alone now (on bus or walk), also they may have more responsibility like lunch money or book responsibility.

-Encourage your child’s physical and emotional wellbeing through healthy sleep habits, eating well, and participation in enjoyable activities.

This article was contributed by Elisha Minihan, psychology assistant with HSE Primary Care Child and Family Psychology Service. The service is a member of Parenting Limerick, a network of parenting and family support organisations. For more information on this and other topics go to www.loveparenting.ie.